I couldn't fall asleep last Friday night, so, somehow, I got started on this project. By Saturday morning, I had three of them started, but decided to hold off on the last two until I worked a few things out. Anyway, it's not quite right, but it has been a learning process. I used a few HO scale parts (air tank for main reservoir on pilot, etched diesel steps for the platform on top of the reservoir, and brake platforms for the running boards on the pilot side of the cylinders),some assorted N scale bits, Micron Arts boxcar ladders, PZ trailing truck, and assorted brass and styrene. The head lamp will be operating using fiber optics, some piping, conduits/handrails will be added. Dan S.
Wow, looks good. I figured you started with a Marklin shell, but had to get mine to know for sure. It looks big & beefy now, definitely PRR. The PZ trailing truck, was that from the K4 kit? How about a small keystone for the smoke box front.
The PZ trailing truck started out as being for the K4 stream line kit, but they sell them loose as well. They need to be modified to work with the stock marklin shell (I'm hoping I can keep mine in tact). I got mine a few years ago from Bob Olsen. But, you can buy them at hobbycraftsnmore.com. Just look through the PZ offerings. He also has a picture of the Loewy K4. I don't think the new ones are made by GHQ, but they are from the same masters. http://www.hobbycraftsnmore.com/php3dp30mub0020/products.php?cat=182&pg=7 As for the Keystone on the smoke box, she's a freight loc. She just gets a round black number plate with brass lettering. I have some Alkem N scale number plates that I bought to make keystone shaped Whistle and Ring signs, but the set also included a bunch of freight number plates. I think I'm just going to see how one of them looks. http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Bunker/8552/ASMMain/PennsyLoco.html I'm hoping the Pennsy Dark Locomotive Green will help to hide some of my botched bits. Well, I spose I should get to bed, morning comes too soon. Dan S.
I didn't even notice the round plate on the proto pic, just thought all PRR steam had a keystone. oops. That K4 kit is where my spare tender came from. Man it is very hard to not want to do one up: http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?//february99/02-16-99/prr3768.jpg Cars to pull behind it would help push me... http://www.americanmodels.com/_photos/k4bw.jpg If I may suggest, add some sort of foot board to your pilot. Even if it's just a piece of U shaped wire hanging down.
I was extremely tempted a few years ago when uncle will was selling off some of the last of the pre-painted and decaled versions. I have a set of the old PennZee resin heavyweight kits that I have to build to pull behind my G5s. I should probably get one of the Loewy kits just to have one. I've got a couple of Pacifics here to play with. By footboard do you mean to the pilot itself, or from the pilot to the running boards? I plan on adding a piece of 1/32" styrene angle Iron to the bottom of each of the ladders on the pilot. I was thinking of adding a second step from the pilot to the running boards. The prototype only had one, but the geometry of the Marklin loc's smoke box, pilot, and leading truck make that single step look totally wrong.
Dan, Check out Repulic Locomotive Works http://www.republiclocomotiveworks.com/ loco parts. I think you'll find a pilot there that would suit you pretty good for this project. John
Yeah the step right above the rails is the footboard. I think about halfway through the diesel era these low foot steps where banned for safety reasons. http://www.railarchive.com/rlsteam/pilots.gif The switch crew would stand there during moves. Your strip of styrene should do the trick. Man I wish someone (even Marklin) would do a nice 6 car set of heavyweights. Erie was one of the few railroads that had heavy Pacifics and they used the tall feedwater heater tanks: http://www.steamlocomotive.com/pacific/erie2938.jpg Would be great to shelve my diesels : )
Looks fantstic Dan! Thanks for sharing. I can't wait to see it finished. Very inspiring work here lately on the board!
It's nice to see an L1. I've always noticed it seems less popular among fans and modellers than the K4, I1 and M1.
That's just because the L1's only claim to fame is that it was co-developed with the K4 so they shared boilers, fireboxes, and a bunch of other parts. They were a great locomotive, which is why the Pennsy had about 575 of them, but the I1 came out shortly thereafter and took most of their coal hauling routes, then, the M1 took the fast freight routes, leaving the L1s with secondary routes and helper service. They sort of followed the course of the consolidations. There were a lot of them in use, but none of the glory jobs. If Marklin made a loc with 8 72" drivers, or a decapod with 62" drivers, I would gladly make M1s and I1s, but, until I come up with the skills to add another driver to the Pacifics and Mikados, I'm stuck with L1s. Which doesn't really bother me, I sort of like the underdog. Dan S.
That looks awesome!!!! Steam is coming Alive!!! Co-op Steam project on ZCS, Shay project by Lajos, Berkshire by Chris, and this L1 by you!!! Very nice!!! I have a drawing of the chassis I need to machine for my 4-4-0 "the General" I want to build. Need to machine the chassis first. Am following Lajos's progress on the Shay also!!! Want a Logging trains too! Keep up the excellent work!!! Hobo Tim p.s. Ever thought of duplicating your Heavyweight Kits??? Let's Talk!
Well, my first L1 is complete. The smokebox is actually a mixture of mostly black with some "old silver" mixed in. Unfortunately, in the pictures, it looks mostly silver. The metalic silver seems to play games with the camera. The color mixture was actually taken from a Pennsy painting standard for steam locomotives. Anyway, I learned a few important lessons for the next one.
She looks great with her dress on Dan I always thought the Marklin shell was a bit odd, wimpy and out of proportion, but your large fire box and re-located headlight really give it the PRR look. I had though of picking the PRR for my Z scale road because of lack of Z decals.
